Catalyst for carbon nanotube production

Abstract

The present invention provides a catalyst for carbon nanotube production capable of continuously mass-producing a carbon nanotube having a long fiber length and excellent conductivity. The catalyst for carbon nanotube production of the present invention includes a carrier particle which is configured to include a metal oxide and has voids therein, and a metal catalyst which is carried on the carrier particle. In a pore distribution curve of the carrier particle which is obtained by a mercury penetration method, when an integrated value of volumes of pores having a pore size of equal to or larger than 0.1 μm is set to be a volume of voids per unit mass of the carrier particle, the volume of the voids is set to be in a range of 0.6 cm 3 /g to 2.2 cm 3 /g.

1 . A catalyst for carbon nanotube production, the catalyst comprising:
 a carrier particle which is configured to include a metal oxide and has voids therein; and   a metal catalyst which is carried on the carrier particle,   wherein when an integrated value of volumes of pores having a pore size of equal to or larger than 0.1 μm is set to be a volume of the voids per unit mass of the carrier particle in a pore distribution curve of the carrier particle which is obtained by a mercury penetration method, a volume of the voids is in a range of 0.6 cm 3 /g to 2.2 cm 3 /g.   
     
     
         2 . A method of manufacturing a catalyst for carbon nanotube production, the method comprising:
 a process of obtaining a carrier particle, which is configured to include a metal oxide and has voids therein, by adding alcohol, in dispersing metal oxide particles in the alcohol, in an amount capable of impregnating the metal oxide particles with the alcohol to adjust a metal oxide solution, by drying the metal oxide solution, and then by further firing the metal oxide solution;   a process of dispersing a metal catalyst in the alcohol to adjust a nano-metal solution; and   a process of coating a surface of the carrier particle with the nano-metal solution, performing drying thereon, and then further performing firing thereon,   wherein the process of obtaining the carrier particle includes drying and firing the metal oxide solution while controlling a volume of the voids to be in a range of 0.6 cm 3 /g to 2.2 cm 3 /g when an integrated value of volumes of pores having a pore size of equal to or larger than 0.1 μm is set to be a volume of the voids per unit mass of the carrier particle in a pore distribution curve of the carrier particle which is obtained by a mercury penetration method.